The 5 Most Common Injuries:
Participating in any sport carries an injury risk, from running marathons to playing football. They can occur due to a range of factors including; contact with the opposition, incorrect training, defective equipment, substandard playing surface and poor warm up strategy. Most sporting injuries are minor but some can put you out of action for a considerable period of time. Below are some of the most common sporting injuries and how to avoid and treat them.
Strains and Sprains -
Strains occur when a muscle or tendon is stretched beyond its tolerance, sprains occur in the same capacity to ligaments. These are common sporting injuries due to the fact they can happen during any type of athletic activity. The stretch occurs when sudden movement pulls the fibres past its normal maximum length. Strains and sprains lead to inflammation and pain. Two most common are ankle sprains and hamstring strains, these can vary from mild to severe injuries. A mild injury will lead to discomfort, inflammation and pain, whereas a severe injury needs medical attention due to the ligament or tendon being torn.
Treatment depends on the area affected and the severity but rest and pain medication are required all while following the PEACE and LOVE protocol for injuries. For more severe injuries consulting a medical professional is advised.
Shin Splints -
These are super common sporting injuries, very prevalent in runners that run on the hard surfaces such as concrete. It is caused by the muscles in the lower leg being used in a capacity that they aren't used to. Pain develops on the outside of your lower leg, typically where you can see and feel your tibia. Shin Splints typically heal by themselves by resting, applying ice and taking pain medication. Should this not resolve the pain then consulting a professional can help rule out more serious pathologies.
Shoulder Impingement -
Shoulder Impingement issues stem from the rotator cuff which is a series of muscles that are primarily responsible for the shoulder and all of its complex and wide degrees of motion. Over-use or frequent extension can lead to the head of the humerous impinging on those muscle tendons causing inflammation. This leads to pain on the top and outer side of your shoulder, that worsens when lifting your arm upwards as well as weakness. Typically treatment for shoulder impingement, in addition to pain medication when required, is sports therapy to help improve posture and strengthen the surrounding musculature to improve range of movement.
Knee Ligament Tears -
Knee injuries are some of the most common injuries, it is especially common in football, basketball and rugby. These sports have huge changes of direction with lots of stress placed on the joints such as twists, distending too far backwards or too much impact. They present with a wide range of symptoms from minor pain to complete joint laxity when there is a tear in the ligament. These major ligament tears can take an athlete out of action for months on end, and could require surgery. Mild injuries are often treated with various forms of therapy and rest depending on the pain present.
Dislocated Joints -
Joint dislocations typically occur in the shoulder joint but can occur at any joint in the body. It happens when a bone in the affected joint is pushed out of place in the socket, normally due to heavy contact as there are huge forces required to dislocate a joint. Contact sports such as Rugby and Ice Hockey are somewhere you see dislocations more frequently. These injuries require immediate medical attention in order to minimise any long term damage by placing the joint back where it should be. There may be longer term soft tissue damage that will need sports therapy treatment to help restore the range of motion.
If you are suffering with any injury or pain do not hesitate to get in touch, even during the latest lockdown I can still help.
Amy
